GOP Rep’s Shock Statement: Next Wave of Immigrants to Come From East Africa

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), one of the most stringent opponents of illegal and legal immigration in Congress, predicted Wednesday that the next wave of immigrants to come to the United States will be from East Africa.

King cited birth rates in making his argument, stating that lower birth rates in Mexico and Central American and higher birth rates in East Africa mean more immigrants will eventually come from those countries.

He explicitly said immigrants who serve as farm workers in the United States will come from East Africa.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican who has a penchant for controversy, created an uproar on social media Monday by questioning the contributions of non-white people during a cable television appearance at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Appearing on an MSNBC panel led by Chris Hayes, King and others discussed the start of the GOP’s big event, which is expected to result in the party’s nomination of Donald Trump for president. But Charles Pierce of Esquire magazine observed that the predominately white Republican gathering was hardly a celebration of diversity.

“If you’re really optimistic, you can say that this is the last time that old white people will command the Republican Party’s attention, its platform, its public face,” Pierce said. “That hall is wired by loud, unhappy, dissatisfied white people.”